US reduces number of combat-ready brigades in Europe

On 20 May 2026, the Pentagon said it reduced the number of US brigade combat teams in Europe from four to three. Deutsche Welle wrote that this brings US troop levels in Europe back to 2021 levels, and the Washington Post wrote that thousands of troops will be cut.

Fox News wrote that the cut comes as Trump pressures NATO on spending, and O Globo linked it to an earlier order to withdraw US troops from Germany.